Description
Multiple buffer overflows in the st_wavstartread function in wav.c for Sound eXchange (SoX) 12.17.2 through 12.17.4 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via certain WAV file header fields.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 13 | sox | 12.17.4-9 | — |
| Debian 12 | sox | 12.17.4-9 | — |
| Debian 3.0 | sox | 12.17.3-4woody2 | DSA-565-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 3 | sox +1 | 12.17.4-4.3 | RHSA-2004:409 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 2
- SoX - '.wav' Local Buffer Overflow EDB-374 · local · Aug 4, 2004 · verified
- SoX - Local Buffer Overflow EDB-369 · local · Aug 1, 2004 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2004:409 Red Hat Security Advisory: sox security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-565-1 sox - buffer overflows Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- RHSA-2004:409 vendor-advisory
- 10819 vdb-entry
- FLSA:1945 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200407-23 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9801 vdb-entry signature
- 12175 third-party-advisory
- sox-wav-bo(16827) vdb-entry
- DSA-565 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2004-244 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2004-235 vendor-advisory
- 20040728 SoX buffer overflows when handling .WAV files mailing-list
- MDKSA-2004:076 vendor-advisory
- CLA-2004:855 vendor-advisory
- 20040728 SoX buffer overflows when handling .WAV files mailing-list